Cover Image: Beauty Among Ruins

Beauty Among Ruins

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Member Reviews

Beauty Among Ruins
by J'nell Ciesielski

A well written captivating story about Lily an intelligent headstrong young American woman who’s controlling and disapproving parents sent her to her aunt and uncle in England but unfortunately on her arrival there war breaks out and she is sent to Scotland and becomes a nurse at a field hospital in a Scottish castle.

A beautiful well written story follows Lily’s journey and the strong woman she becomes and the trials along the way. A beautiful story all round with romance as well . Very enjoyable read

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I’m a sucker for historical fiction taking place in Scotland. This is one of those romances that sweeps you off your feet and you can’t help but to love!

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I absolutely LOVED this book.

J’Nell Cielieski is a somewhat new to me author, and this is only the second book of hers I have read, the first being The Socialite. But she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this novel is proof as to why.

Lily is head strong, independent, loves to have fun, and tries to make the best out of situations. I felt bad for her as her parents were controlling and wouldn’t allow her to live the life she wanted. They were tired of her antics and they send her off to England to be with her aunt and uncle and cousins. But World War I breaks out and she ends up going to Scotland where she becomes a nurse for the Tommies. And where she meets a mysterious and intriguing man.

I had mixed emotions about Alec at first. He seemed somewhat cold the first time I met him, and he ended up being aggressive. But the more I read, the more I realized why. He is under so much stress, trying to save his beloved home of Kinclavoch from falling apart. He’s selling heirlooms and paintings to try and save it. He’s also trying to take care of his grieving mother and sick sister. Under his hard exterior, its clear that there is a sweet and caring man.

What I love most about this novel, though, is the fact that it is somewhat based off of Beauty and the Beast, which is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time.

I also love the author’s writing style. She is very descriptive and uses beautiful metaphors. It made the book that much more enjoyable.

I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

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Beauty Among Ruins is the first book I've read by this author, but I'm definitely open to reading more books in the future.

I wasn't sure what to think of this book when I first started it, but it didn't take long before I was captivated by the story and it felt like I was back in that time/setting.

I loved the characters. Lily changed a lot in the story and I loved seeing her grow as a person. The romance was good and I enjoyed the ending.

All in all, Beauty Among Ruins was a great read and I recommend it to fans of historical fiction.


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

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A Lowlands tale with a dash of American fun, this story didn’t take long to grow on me. It was quite interesting to be transported into a Scottish castle during the midst of World War I.

Viola’s thread greatly reminded me of The Secret Garden. It was delightful and cozy and just the sort of story I was in the mood for.

The moody leading man was the opposite to the lighthearted, optimistic leading lady. Their romance was enjoyable and sweet, if tense and antagonistic at times. It was a scrumptious truffle with a pinch of spice.

The theme of finding one’s purpose was well delivered in this field-hospital-in-a-castle tale. Lily’s search for the place in which her God-given talents would best fit was completely relatable. Every nuance of her journey kept me riveted and soaring through the chapters.

Scotland came alive in this novel. From the descriptions of the weather to the castle and its grounds to the delicious brogue (mastered well by the audio’s narrator, by the way), every detail of the country stitched together to create a magnificent backdrop that was practically a character all its own.

One disappointing thing was that the leading man had no qualms about cursing. Ephesians 4:29 HCSB says, “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” I wish the leading man would have tamed his tongue.

Content: alcohol, replacement profanity, replacement expletives, profanity

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Oh, I absolutely loved this book!! I did not want the story to end! Delightful characters, enchanting Scottish castle, page-turning mystery, and charming Scottish brogue. Everything you could want and more, all wrapped up in this fantastic story! Definitely a book for my keeper shelf!

(I received a copy from the publisher. I am not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own)

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The cover art captured my eye...however, the first chapter captivated my attention and did not let go until the final page. A beautifully written historical novel. Intriguing. Endearing. Five stars.

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Scottish highland stories always captivate me. I wish I could be transported there right away when I open up books about it. The descriptions of the area in this book were very vivid. I wish I could have been walking the hills and enjoying a picnic among the heather or by the stream with these characters.

Lily is an American heiress who has been sent to England by her parents to hopefully live with family there and remove some of her headstrong ways. It took me a little bit to get into the story but I did enjoy watching Lily stay true to herself in many ways. She was cheerful and brought a lot of joy to those around her. Even when she ended up in some situations of butting heads with others. Although, I was cheering her on in those instances. Hahaha!

Alec was a brooding character who had all the cares of the world on his shoulders. Ever step he seemed to be making forward was another ten backwards. Poor man! I loved his and Lily's interactions. Especially their initial meeting. In true Lily fashion she didn't let a little surly attitude stop her from being happy and finding positives around her.

The chemistry between these two just kept building and made for a sweet love story. But that's not all there is in this book. There is some suspense, some mystery, soldiers recovering from wounds sustained during war, family struggles, friendships, healing, sorrow, love, Scottish brogues, rain, heather, socialites and airs, and a castle full of beauty and mystery.

I'm looking forward to reading her next book, The Ice Swan,

Content: Clean. Some mild peril, soldiers suffering from PTSD, talk about war, some mild suspense and mystery as well as a few mild kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

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While I enjoyed this book and the characters, I felt like the story stalled a bit for me in the middle of it. Still enjoyable and I liked the time period though.

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I enjoyed this book a lot. I ended up listening to the audio version. The narrator was well chosen for this book. An American heiress is stuck in England during the war and can’t cross the Atlantic back to NYC. She has been sent to visit family to give her parents a break and as a kind of punishment. Lily becomes a nurse in a Scottish Castle with Alec as the Laird of that castle. Their banter has me laughing at times. It was a fun, playful, clean, romantic book. Lily was such a fun character. She grew a lot too, from a spoiled heiress, she got to choose to learn who she was and not society’s expectations for her. Definitely recommend this lovely take set in Scotland.

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I love reading any book that takes place in Scotland whether it is in the past or present. There is just something about it that makes romance all the better in my opinion. In this one we are in 1915 and Lily Durham has been sent to England in order to find a husband. However, Lily takes a position as nurse’s aid at Kinclavoch Castle convalescent home for WWI soldiers in Scotland.

While Lily is a socialite she isn't the flighty woman the head matron thinks she is. She is determine to help regardless of being given the worst possible assignments. She is a breath of fresh air for the patients and does a wonderful job of keeping their spirits up.

In fact she is such a breath of fresh air that she is able to get Laird Alec MacGregor out of the despair over finances that he is in. Of course someone wants the estate to fail and when a patient goes missing Lily and Alex work together to find out what happened.

Lily is a great character and one who despite having been told her whole life that all she had to look forward to was finding a husband and making a good match is, determined to be more. To have a purpose beyond marriage. While Alex is the quintessential brooding Laird goes through a lot of emotional change as he gets closer to Lily.

As I said, I love Scotland, and putting Lily there gave her more challenges to overcome than she would have if she had stayed in England where she was sent. It gave her a chance to spread her wings and fly. The romance and the mystery are both so well written that this book checked every box for me. It was simply wonderful.

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Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski drew me in from chapter one, and held me captive until the last beautifully-written, deeply satisfying page.

The descriptions, the imagery, the subtle-but-absolutely-brilliant nods to Beauty and the Beast, the romance, the threads of mystery, and, of course, the amazing cast of characters all blended perfectly together in this work of art.

Prepare to be swept up in the rugged beauty of 20th century Scotland—an ancient land on the brink of change—where you’ll meet some incredible (and other infuriating) characters.

Star Rating: 5.5/5

I’d recommend this book to fans of Downton Abbey, Beauty and the Beast, Kate Breslin, Roseanna M. White, and Abigail Wilson.

Note: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley and was asked to write an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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I found this book really an interesting read. For a main character, we have Lily. Lily is an American socialite and heiress sent to her aunt’s home in England when her parents have had enough of her frivolity. But Lily is more than just frivolous things and her time in England is not the same as her life in New York.

While in England, World War I starts and makes it impossible for Lily to return to her parents. She doesn’t want to end up on the bottom of the ocean like the Lusitania! Lily and her cousin, Bertie, decide to become nurses to help the wounded men returning to England from the war. The two end up in Scotland, working on the estate of Laird Alec.

Alec is a man who is quite fine being on his own and keeping his distance from people. An old injury prevented him from fighting in the war and he feels that opening his home to the injured is the way he can help out. He also has the piling debts that many nobles of the time have from generations of spending beyond their means.

Lily and Alec keep running into each other, figuratively and literally. They are very different people and yet both are very passionate about the things they care about: Lily about her patients and Alec about his estate. They end up having their disagreements and some hilarious encounters, particularly when Lily does things that Alec does not find agreeable.

If you enjoy historical fiction set in the early 1900s, I would recommend this book. It was a good read and lovely to see the characters develop as they did.

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J'nell has a way of pulling a reader not only into the storyline, but the setting as well. I can't say that I thought about traveling to Scotland a lot, but now that I've read Beauty Among Ruins, I am ready to book my flight. Her descriptiveness makes the setting come so alive it's like you can see it in front of you as you read it. It's beautiful, poetic, and lovely to read.

Lily and Alec are wonderfully written characters. With this Beauty and the Beast vibe, you not only see two characters come together in a natural way, but a way that almost has you on the edge of your seat. Lily, thrown into circumstances beyond her control, isn't afraid to go against the grain so to speak. She does what she thinks is right, and well, sometimes suffers the consequences because of it. Did anyone else get the Miss Hannigan vibe from Lily's superior? I don't know why she made me think of her lol. Anyways..... Lily was determined to be more than just your average socialite, and I loved seeing her journey.

Alec on the other hand, was kind of a beast. The thing is though, I think it was more of how people perceived him at times then his actual personality. Don't get me wrong - he had some beastly moments. But underneath that beast is a man who really has a sweet heart. He was trying to save his family, his home, and maybe even himself. I absolutely loved the scenes with him in them. My heart went out to him!

Overall, J'nell gives readers a story that will transport you to beautiful historic Scotland, with characters you can connect with, and a storyline that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can. Highly recommend to historical fiction fans. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I know that we are not supposed to judge books by their covers, but I must admit that when I see a J'nell Ciesielski cover, I am judging...in the best way possible. Her covers are absolutely stunning. It is what first drew me to her previous book The Socialite and it's what initially drew me to Beauty Among Ruins as well. And while that initial impression may be based on the artwork, seeing that name on them, I know that what I find inside will be every bit as beautiful too. Beauty Among Ruins is a prime example of that!

This book takes us to Scotland at the start of WWI, where we meet socialite Lily Durham as she's joining her cousin in nursing wounded soldiers in a rundown castle owned by the broody Alec MacGregor. What follows is a story filled with beautiful scenery, a good dose of mystery and of course, a fantastic romance! It was a bit slow paced at times for me, but the writing was beautiful and I couldn't help but be drawn into these fantastic characters' lives. I love the details within the story, and appreciated the research that must have gone into the writing.

If you enjoy historical romance, this is definitely one to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

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I got to page 80 and read the end but did not feel compelled to read the entire book. The story is well written but "sweeter" and "younger" than I thought it might be. I am sure that many will love it. It is also very long to tell what, from the portion I read, could probably have been told with less pages. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book but I will not be leaving a full review as I have not read the book in its entirety. DNF

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I enjoyed this historical novel. Beauty Among Ruins is the first book I’ve read by Ciesielski but it sure won’t be the last. I felt like I was right there amidst the wounded and those caring for them. Lily and Alec leapt off the page and right into my heart. It’s set during a serious time in history and the author does a good job of bringing levity when needed. I recommend it to fans of Inspirational historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. No compensation received.

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In Beauty Among Ruins, Lily Durham is a rich American girl who is shipped over seas to stay with relatives. Before her return trip is scheduled, World War II begins, making it unsafe for her to return to America. She decides to join her cousin Bertie in becoming a nurse to help the convalescing soldiers, and the girls are sent to Scotland to Kinclavoch Castle, the estate of the MacGregors, to work at the makeshift hospital that has been set up in the castle. Alec MacGregor is the head of the MacGregor family since his father’s passing, and he’s doing all he can to save his family from ruin and from losing all they have thanks to debt his father left and the deteriorating state of the ancient castle. And now he’s also housing soldiers, but he wants to do his part since his own injury prevents him from joining the fight. Angry, stressed-out, and shut off from the world, Alec is unprepared for the upheaval that the arrival of a lively American girl will bring. As one disaster strikes after the next, will Alec be able to save his family home? And will Lily be able to help Alec see his own worth?
I really loved this story. From beginning to end, I didn’t want to put the book down. I thought the characters were very well developed. Lily was relatable and funny, and Alec was moody and emotional. The chemistry between Lily and Alec was slow-building but tangible from the start. I enjoyed the element of mystery throughout the story. And I appreciate that this was a clean romance. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but after reading this one, I will definitely be on the lookout for her other titles.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

This is the first novel I have read by J'nell Ciesielski and I adore her writing! This is a unique story of a preppy American woman, Lily, who finds herself serving as a nurse in a Scottish castle during WWI. Primarily this is a historical romance drama with the war in the background. Let me tell you, it is full of some major drama, scandal, and love. It is a story of friendship, family, and perseverance as well. My favorite line, "I didn't realize how lost I felt until now, when I find myself in your eyes," I mean, Alec, the Laird of the castle, is totally swoon worthy! I could see this book made into a TV series similar to Downton Abbey. I did think this book was a tad long and drawn out at some points as I found my mind wandering while reading it. I would recommend it though, as it is an interesting cast of characters and events. I look forward to reading more book by Ms. Ciesielski in the future.

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Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was my first book by this author and let me tell you, it will not be my last. The year is 1914, Lily Durham is a beautiful young lady of wealthy parents, but she is bored with her entitled lifestyle and her boring peers, she seeks fun, which her mother does not agree with. As a punishment her mother sends her from New York to England to stay with cousins; in the hopes that she will grow up and be ready to settle down with a wealthy husband. Flash forward to April 1915, Lily and her cousin Elizabeth have volunteered to be nurses at a Convalescent home in Scotland for soldiers injured in the war.

It is here that Lily’s life is turned upside down. Always trying her best to keep a positive outlook and be helpful she finds herself on the bad side of the Matron right away. Lily also has a bad habit of being where she shouldn’t and ends up running into the Lord of the Manor, Alec MacGregor, a dashing Scotsman with a cane, who because of his injury could not go to war, so he has opened his home to the gate of the soldiers. I was so caught up in Lily’s story, captivated by this handsome Scotsman, whose is struggling to keep his heavily debted castle from the hands of a snarky businessman who has ulterior motives for trying to take the castle from the MacGregors. Then bad things start to happen at the castle, is it in more trouble than we think it is there a saboteur in the works. Will Alec be able to redeem his castle and give in to his feelings for Lily or will she be taken back to America by her parents.

The characters are richly written and the story a joy to read. The scenery is stunning and I could almost smell the heather. Wonderful book. I loved it. Cannot wait to read more by this author.

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